Apparatus for transporting shredded tobacco or the like



June 17, 1969 APPARATUS FOR K. HAGENAl-l 3,450,440

TRANSPORTING SHREDDED TOBACCO OR THE LIKE Fild May 2. 1967 lNVENroR.-

United States Patent O H 5 Int. Cl. B65g 53/08, 37/00, 47/18 ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A rst Stringer of an endless spiked belt receives shredded tobacco from a bin and dumps the bulk of tobacco at an end turn So that such tobacco drops onto aninclined chute for delivery to a funnel which feeds tobacco to one or more pneumatic conveyors. At least some tobacco particles which continued to adhere to the spiked belt during dumping of the bulk at the end turn descend by gravity during travel with a return Stringer of the belt, and such particles are intercepted by the chute so that they are guided into the aforementioned funnel. The bottom wall of the bin is constituted by lan endless feeder belt which supplies tobacco to the upper Stringer of the spiked belt, and both belts receive motion from a common drive.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to apparatus for transporting shredded tobacco or analogous particulate materials which tend to cling together and to roughened or other uneven surfaces, particularly to the spikes or needles of endless belts.

It is already known to withdraw shredded tobacco from bins by resorting to a spiked belt whose upper Stringer receives tobacco from the bin to dump the bulk of the thus received tobacco at an end turn. The spikes of the belt tend to retain some tobacco particles, and such particles descend by gravity during travel with the lower Stringer back toward the bin. In order to avoid waste and/ or contamination of the transporting apparatus, the particles which leave the lower Stringer are intercepted by a jacket which is disposed below the lower Stringer of the spiked belt and are fed into a separate receptacle. Such receptacle also intercepts Small amounts of tobacco whichleak between the bin and the upper Stringer of the spiked belt. The contents of the receptacle are returned into the bin, either continuously or at intervals. A Serious drawback of such transporting apparatus is that the particles which failed to leave the spiked belt at the end turn are subjected to undesirable mechanical treatment which causes breakage of shreds, either during transfer in the jacket toward the separate receptacle and/ or during transfer from the receptacle back to the bin. Broken shreds, also called short tobacco, are inferior to long shreds and cannot be used in the manufacture of high-quality tobacco containing products. Furthermore, particles which failed to leave the spiked belt at the end turn are often exposed to atmospheric air for extended periods of time, and such contact with air will change their moisture content or will cause loss of aroma.

Accordingly, it is an important object of my invention to provide a novel and improved transporting apparatus for shredded tobacco or like particulate materials and to construct and assemble the apparatus in such a way that all particles which are withdrawn from a source by a spiked belt invariably reach the same destination without necessitating detouring through the bin despite the fact that a certain percentage of tobacco particles will continue to adhere to the belt during and subsequently to travel past the end turn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transporting apparatus of the just outlined character wherein not only such tobacco which is being withdrawn by the spiked belt but also any and all particles which happen to leak between the spiked belt and the bin invariably land in the same region for further transport without being required to pass through the bin for the second time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact drive for a transporting apparatus of the above outlined type.

An additional object of my `invention is to provide a transporting apparatus which is particularly suited to transfer tobacco from a main source to one or more pneumatic conveyors for delivery to cigarette making or analogous tobacco processing or consuming machines.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a transporting apparatus wherein all such particles which are being withdrawn simultaneously from a main source remain in contact with atmospheric air for identical `or nearly identical periods of time and wherein all particles are subjected to negligible comminuting action on their way from the main source to the first processing station.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transporting apparatus which occupies less or no more floor space than conventional transporting apparatus for comminuted tobacco.

Summary of the invention The improved transporting apparatus comprises a bin or another suitable source of shredded tobacco or lanalogous particulate material which tends to accumulate in batches and is likely to cling to or to dwell in interstices between spikes, teeth, needles, pins or like protuberances, a transfer member including an endless spiked belt having an end turn which is preferably located `at the uppermost point of the belt, a first Stringer which is preferably inclined and travels upwardly to receive from the bin a continuous layer or mat of particulate material and to convey the thus received material toward and to dump the bulk of conveyed material at the end turn, and a return Stringer which preferably travels downwardly and along which at least some of the remaining material (i.e., such material which failed to leave the belt at the end turn) descends by gravity, possibly with some assistance by suitable mechanical and/or pneumatic means (such as a blower arranged to direct jets of air through the interstices or pores of the spiked belt), and common intercepting' means for the material which is dumped at the end turn `and for the material which leaves the return Stringer. Such common intercepting means may comprise a suitably inclined slope or chute having a surface which guides the material in a predetermined direction, preferably into a collecting funnel which distributes material to one or more pneumatic conveyors for delivery to cigarette making or like consuming machines. The funnel may be positioned in such 'a way that it collects material which is supplied by the intercepting lmeans as well as any such material which might leak between the rst Stringer of the spiked belt and the bin.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved transporting apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, Will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Brie)c description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a transporting apparatus which embodies one form of my invention, a portion of the apparatus being shown in vertical section; and

FIG. 2 illustrates the transporting apparatus partly in top plan view and partly in section, substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line `II-II of FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown a transporting apparatus for shredded tobacco. The apparatus comprises a suitable frame F which supports a main source or bin 1 having an inlet 1a which receives shredded tobacco 2 at regular or irregular intervals, for example, from one or more shredding or cutting machines. The arrangement is preferably such that the bin 1 invariably accommodates a minimal supply of tobacco. The bottom wall of the bin 1 is constituted by the upper run of an endless feeder belt 3 which is driven to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow. The upper run of the feeder belt 3 is inclined and supplies shredded tobacco toward the iirst or transporting Stringer 4a of an endless spiked belt 4 which constitutes a transfer member and serves to deliver shredded tobacco from the bin 1 to a collecting member of funnel S having an open upper end or inlet a portion of which is located directly below a narrow gap between the belts 3 and 4 so that tobacco shreds which happen to escape between these belts invariably drop into the funnel. The Stringer 4a is inclined upwardly and advances a continuous layer or mat of tobacco shreds toward an end turn 6 where the bulk of tobacco shreds is dumped onto the downwardly inclined guide surface 7a of an intercepting member here Shown as a simple chute or Slope 7. The lower end of the guide surface 7a is located above the inlet of the funnel 7 so that the latter receives all Such tobacco shreds which are dumped at the end turn 6.

The outer side of the belt v4 is provided with discrete projections 4A in the form of spikes, needles, pins, teeth or the like. Such projections tend to retain tobacco shreds and they form between themselves interstices or spaces which also tend to accumulate or retain some shreds. Thus, while a spiked belt possesses the advantage that the shreds cannot slide along its Stringer 4a during travel toward the end turn 6, it tends to retain some shreds so that such shreds adhere to the projections 4A or accumulate in the spaces between such projections and leave the belt 4 by gravity only during travel with the lower or return Stringer 4b of the belt which travels downwardly in a direction toward the inlet of the funnel t8. In accordance with a feature of my present invention, the chute 7 intercepts not only such tobacco shreds which are dumped at the end turn 6 but also some or all of the shreds which leave the return Stringer 4b so that all tobacco shreds which are withdrawn from the bin 1 and leave the spiked belt 4 in the region between the Stringer 4a and the lower end of the Stringer 4b invariably land in the funnel 7. Some shreds which continue to cling to the return stringer `4b will be Separated therefrom when successive increments of the belt travel around the lower end turn 6a.

The funnel 8 has one or more outlets 8a which discharge tobacco shreds into one or more pneumatic conveyors Serving to deliver tobacco to one or more consuming machines, for example, to a battery of rod cigarette machines. The conveyors are preferably arranged to advance tobacco shreds by suction. FIG. l shows a iirst pneumatic conveyor 9 including a blower 9a and a pipe 9b, and the pipe 9b' of a second pneumatic conveyor.

The drive for the belts 3 and 4 comprises an electric motor 5 which is mounted on the frame F and rotates the lower pulley or sprocket 4c of the belt 4 through the intermediary of an endless chain or belt 5a. A second endless chain or belt 5b drives one pulley or sprocket of the belt 3; such second chain 5b can be driven directly by the output shaft of the motor 5 or, and as shown in FIG. 1, by the sprocket 4c.

The transporting apparatus further comprises one or more refuser wheels 11 which are adjacent to the Stringer 4a and serve to equalize the tobacco layer or mat which is being withdrawn from the bin 1. The wheel or wheels 11 can receive motion from the motor 5 or from one of the belts 3 and 4.

The chute 7 can form an integral part of the frame F and may be provided with side walls to prevent lateral spreading of tobacco particles during travel toward the inlet of the funnel 8. It is further clear that the apparatus can be provided with a second chute to intercept material which leaks through the gap 10 if the inlet of the funnel 8 is not located directly below the gap 10.

A very important advantage of my transporting apparatus is that the percentage of broken or short shreds in the funnel Sis very small and that nearly all of the shreds cover the same distance during travel from the bin 1 into the funnel. Furthermore, a single funnel suices to collect the material which leaks from the bin and the material which is withdrawn by the spiked belt 4.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specitic aspects of my contribution to the art.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is Set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for transporting Shredded tobacco and analogous particulate materials, comprising a source of material; a transfer member including a spiked endless belt having an end turn, a rst Stringer arranged to receive particulate material from said source and to convey the thus received material toward and to dump the bulk of conveyed material at said end turn, and a return Stringer along which at least some of the remaining material descends by gravity; and common intercepting means for the material which iS dumped at said end turn and for the material which leaves at least the major part of said return Stringer by gravity.

2. Apparatus as deined in claim 1, wherein Said irst Stringer is arranged to convey material upwardly and wherein said return Stringer travels downwardly.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein Said source comprises an endless feeder belt arranged to supply material to said rst Stringer, and further comprising common drive means for said belts.

4. Apparatus as deiined in claim 1, further comprising refuser means for equalizing the material on said first Stringer.

5. Apparatus for transporting shredded tobacco and analogous particulate materials, comprising a source of material; a transfer member including a spiked endless belt having an end turn, a first Stringer arranged to receive particulate material from Said source and to convey the thus received material toward and to dump the bulk of conveyed material at said end turn, and a return Stringer along which at least Some of the remaining material descends by gravity, Said source comprising a portion defining with said iirst Stringer a gap through which some of the material can drop by gravity feed into Said collecting means; and common intercepting means for the material which is dumped at said end turn and for the material which leaves said return Stringer.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein Said intercepting means comprises a chute.

7. Apparatus as delined in claim 6, wherein said chute comprises a surface arranged to guide the material in a predetermined direction.

l8. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising material collecting means disposed at a level below and arranged to receive material from said chute.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim I8, wheerin said collecting means comprises a funnel having a material-admitting inlet and at least one outlet, and further comprising at least one pneumatic conveyor arranged to received material through said outlet.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said portion of the source is constituted by an endless feeder belt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,420,015 6/1922 Bernert 302--36 6 1,465,050 8/1923 Kinsley ..198-58 X 2,811,241 10/1957 Bogaty 198-161 X FOREIGN PATENTS 5 478,534 6/1929 Germany.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Pri/mm7 Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

